DISTRICT OF MALTA R. 
83 
years, of Kerim Khan. It stands at the foot of a strong fortress, 
now in ruins, built on a conical hill, and surrounded by a deep 
and broad ditch. The palace of this truly memorable man still 
remains ; and is seen elevated high above the mouldering walls 
of the castle, commanding a fine view of the circumjacent coun¬ 
try. In passing through the village, we found it overflowing 
with pilgrims j and as, from their numbers, they generally play 
the locust wherever they alight, we hastened our pace, to occupy 
the ground of our journey before them. The valley we were 
now in, was one of uncommon beauty, both from natural, and 
added circumstances. Besides its general features of farming 
cultivation, it abounded in wood and water; and the lines of its 
undulating grounds, and minor hills, were of the most varied 
and romantic forms. One scene which presented itself, abso¬ 
lutely stopped me to gaze on the perfect picturesque. It was 
the fortress-rock and village of Chagasia, rising from amidst 
thickets, and groups of trees; over whose tops the bold and 
precipitous cliff reared its embattled head. Beneath, peering 
through the openings of the green foliage, appeared the flat- 
roofed houses of the village, whose brown walls deepened the 
rich shadows of the wooded fore-ground. A stream of consi¬ 
derable width, washes the foot of this insulated height; and 
then flowing onwards for several miles along the valley, pays the 
tribute of its waters to the most beautiful border-groves of willow 
and plane. The high range of mountains which back all this 
fine scenery, connects itself by a succession of branches with 
the great chain not far from Kermanshah. The spot we were 
on, when making these observations, was in the very heart of 
Louristan ; a part of ancient Media, and formerly the country of 
the Elymaitm, Parataceni, and Cossas. It is now considered the 
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